Chapter: 429
The last time I saw Shin-ui…
It must have been just before Wi Seol-ah left the Gu Clan.
So, about two years ago.
I heard from the Second Elder that he left with the Sword Venerable to get married.
I hadn’t heard any news since then.
‘Why is there a god here…?’
Out of nowhere, at the Tang Clan Hall.
And of all things, I never imagined I’d run into this person right when I arrived in Sichuan.
“What are you doing? Come and sit down.”
“…”
At Shin-ui’s words, I approached and sat down.
I was curious who could have offered such a fine place, but if it was Shin-ui, it made perfect sense.
Although we can’t pick the best person in the world in the current Central Plains…
Among the members of the National Assembly, the only one who stood out was none other than Shin-ui. He was someone you couldn’t meet easily, even if you paid hundreds of millions of dollars.
I sat in front of him, offered my respects, and cautiously asked,
“…I hope you’ve been well.”
First, I exchanged greetings. At my words, Shin-ui slightly frowned and replied.
“There’s no comfort in growing old. Just live.”
“…”
He’s still the old man who talks like a dog.
“I called you over since you were coming and I wanted to see your face.”
“Yes. Thank you for calling.”
“Well, unlike your words, your expression looks like you’re dying from exhaustion, but you look like you’re questioning why I called.”
“…”
He was still quite perceptive.
Shin-ui took a sip of the tea in front of him and looked at me with sharp eyes.
“There hasn’t been a day lately without hearing rumors about you.”
“…Ugh.”
“I knew this would happen someday, but it happened much quicker than I expected.”
It seems that Shin-ui has caught wind of my rumors as well.
After all, with the Maeng and Gaebong duo spreading the word all over the country, it would be stranger if he hadn’t heard.
“I’m glad to hear that you’re doing well.”
“…Thank you.”
The Poison King, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation, looked surprised from behind.
Apparently, it’s astonishing to see Shin-ui acting so kindly.
Shin-ui looked at the Poison King and spoke up.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I have something to discuss with you. Please step aside for a moment.”
“…!”
To boldly tell the head of the Tang clan to get lost, what an impressive person in many ways.
Perhaps it’s only possible because it’s Shin-ui.
Upon hearing this, the Poison King appeared to hesitate for a moment, but soon lowered his head, closed the door, and vanished.
After confirming that, I turned my gaze back to Shin-ui.
Is this really why you wanted to talk with me?
“I heard you were looking for me.”
“That’s right. As I said before, I saw you were coming just as I arrived here, so I called you over to see your face.”
“What brings you to Sichuan?”
Shin-ui hesitated for a moment at my straightforward question.
After that, he spoke with a hint of annoyance.
“I originally didn’t want to come, you know…”
His voice mixed with sighs carried many emotions.
“The relationships of the past aren’t that simple.”
I opened my eyes at Shin-ui’s words. That meant…
“By any chance… Has the Great Master come as well?”
The reason Shin-ui went to the Jang-ga was that the Sword Venerable desired to go there.
This implies that there’s a connection between the Sword Master and Shin-ui. Coincidentally, in Sichuan…
‘Wi Seol-ah is here.’
With his granddaughter residing here, it wouldn’t be strange for the Sword Master to appear.
If the Sword Master has appeared… could it be to take Wi Seol-ah away?
Just as spicy emotions began to bubble up…
Shin-ui looked at me as if I were ridiculous.
“Why did the old man’s story come up here?”
“Yes?”
“That gentleman didn’t come.”
“…Then who…?”
“If I tell you, will you understand?”
“…”
Well, that’s true.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I scratched the back of my head.
“Of course, you could know that too.”
“Are you suggesting that I know someone?”
“I’m out on business right now, but come see me when you return.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“Since that old man wanted to see you anyway… Just show your face.”
“…Ah, yes.”
I’m already feeling anxious.
If I recall that the old folks Shin-ui mentioned were all monsters, the person he’s referring to now is likely someone extraordinary as well.
‘Well, in all honesty, there’s no one left to be shocked by.’
Returning from my past encounters, the first thing I faced was the Sword Master.
Following that, the Venerable became my mentor, and the Dark King, the leader of the Dark World, was nearby.
I’ve seen all the heads of the four great families.
I’ve even encountered candidates for the next generation of leaders.
How many more formidable warriors can there be around these days?
‘Unless one of the three remaining beings shows up, there’s nothing to worry about.’
Yes, unless the Heavenly Lord happens to be in Sichuan out of the blue.
There won’t be anything else surprising.
“Then, if you call me later, I will come to see you.”
At my words, Shin-ui nodded vaguely. Just then, someone beside me gently tugged at my clothes.
Curious, I glanced to see it was Jegal Hyuk.
“Why?”
“…”
Jegal Hyuk was writing something on the table with his finger. As I watched, it looked like he was saying, ‘It’s been a while, hyung.’
Seeing that, I absentmindedly ruffled his hair.
“Yeah, it’s been a while for me too. You seem to have gained some weight, so I guess you’ve been eating well.”
At my remark, Jegal Hyuk beamed. I thought to myself as I saw that smile.
‘…Is he smiling?’
I had to feel a bit flustered seeing Jegal Hyuk smile.
Compared to before, he seems bigger now, and his expression of emotions appears to be more intense.
That must mean he’s been doing well.
“I heard that Seol-ah is here too.”
“…Oh, yes. That’s right.”
“How is that child doing?”
When he says “that child,” he’s probably referring to Wi Seol-ah.
If you ask whether Wi Seol-ah is doing well, that’s a rather tricky question to answer.
I hope she is doing fine.
I really wish for that.
“I’m trying to ensure she has a good time.”
“That’s not a bad answer compared to before.”
“…”
It seems I’ve been called incompetent based on my previous responses.
It didn’t feel like much had changed, however.
While I was pondering, Shin-ui suddenly chimed in.
“You’ve changed quite a lot.”
“…In a good way, I hope?”
“It means both.”
It conveyed that there are good and bad aspects.
“The prickles that were visible back then seem to have mostly diminished. However, the tension I felt has only intensified.”
I couldn’t help but smile slightly at Shin-ui’s words.
It was indeed as he stated.
“And…”
Shin-ui extended his wrinkled hand towards me.
“Roll up your sleeves and show me your arms.”
“…Shin-ui?”
“Hurry up.”
The seriousness in Shin-ui’s eyes when he asked for my arm was extraordinary.
Having had this check-up in the past, I cautiously lifted my arm…
‘…Where exactly should I give it?’
I hesitated for a moment, then I stopped.
Both my arms were in unusual states.
I had a purple bandage wrapped around my left arm.
And scales were sprouting on my right arm.
After pondering for about three seconds on what to do, I decided to offer my left arm. I figured the bandage was better than the scales.
Shin-ui’s eyes became subtle as he examined the arm.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Your arm seems fine.”
“No… It just so happened that… well…”
As I stammered, unable to explain myself, Shin-ui nodded slightly, as if he realized something.
What is it?
“Yes, you are at that age.”
“Yes?”
“Wrapping bandages and using eye patches. Isn’t it about time for that?”
It seemed like there were some strange misunderstandings.
That’s not it? That’s really not it.
I felt the urge to clarify this misunderstanding and was about to vocalize it desperately.
Before I could do so, Shin-ui grabbed my arm and began the examination.
‘…What the hell.’
You shouldn’t talk during this time.
This is because the doctor gets extremely furious if you interrupt him during an examination, claiming it disrupts his focus.
So, should I just remain an awkward adolescent boy who inexplicably enjoys bandages and eye patches?
Wow, that’s really not true…
I didn’t think it was, but I couldn’t muster the courage to speak up.
In the end, I remained silent and waited for the examination to conclude without uttering a single word.
That time felt unusually bitter and prolonged.
*
The examination took longer than I anticipated.
Something must have been off because the usually brief check-up became quite the endeavor.
Swish.
Eventually, when the examination concluded, Shin-ui’s eyes finally opened slightly.
Only then was Gu Yangcheon able to ask the question he had been holding onto.
“Is there something wrong with my body?”
It was entirely due to the length of the examination.
In response, Shin-ui asked with a rather serious expression.
“First, let me ask you something.”
As Gu Yangcheon tensed slightly at the serious tone, Shin-ui continued speaking.
“Have you learned Biju’s martial arts?”
“…!”
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened at Shin-ui’s words.
How did he know?
Shin-ui calmly explained to the astonished Gu Yangcheon.
“Only that martial art can create a muscular condition and blood flow like this postnatally.”
“…”
“If you were to undergo what is commonly called a dramatic transformation, it would be different, but there are no signs of that in you. Thus, this is the only explanation. Am I right?”
“…Yes.”
I had no idea you could discern that from the state of my muscles.
Gu Yangcheon felt deeply embarrassed at having been caught, yet there was a hint of sorrow in Shin-ui’s gaze.
“He has finally found his successor… and it happens to be you.”
“Shin-ui…?”
“I hoped and wished that no one else would get swept up in his obsession with achieving something, but here we are.”
“…”
It seems Shin-ui is aware of the problems associated with the Tuapacheonmu technique.
A martial art that inflicts excruciating pain to forcibly alter muscles and blood vessels.
It’s an extraordinary technique that includes forced transformations and even induces a trance-like state in the practitioner.
As the seasoned warrior has pointed out many times, very few can endure the pain required for this.
This might not be very good news for Shin-ui, who is a member of the National Assembly.
“Does your father or that old man know about this?”
“…The lord is aware. The Elder does not.”
“Of all the people, Gu Ryun is the one who doesn’t know? He’ll be severely punished when he finds out later.”
“…”
That seemed likely.
If he discovers I effectively sold myself, wouldn’t it be like he was catching a rat in the act on that day?
‘No, I can slip away now.’
Having reached Hwagyeong, I should be able to evade from Iljangro.
That would be enough.
While Gu Yangcheon was quietly plotting his escape, Shin-ui continued speaking.
“It seems you’ve recently exerted a lot of energy.”
“Oh, yes… it was a bit much.”
The energy expended to transform Dang-deok and hatch the enemy investigation.
Even my body had become weary from it.
Shin-ui had picked up on everything.
He remained true to his reputation as Shin-ui.
“You seem staggeringly exhausted. You must feel it too.”
“Yes.”
“You should take a good rest at least once.”
At those words, Gu Yangcheon smiled bitterly.
It was already what he aimed to do but had failed as he was called here.
He didn’t bother to voice that.
He recognized how costly Shin-ui’s examination was.
Because he understood this was solely an act of goodwill from Shin-ui.
“And.”
As Shin-ui continued, Gu Yangcheon recoiled, trying to refocus.
This time felt considerably different.
It was much heavier and substantial.
Shin-ui’s voice carried emotions, and Gu Yangcheon sensed that gravitas.
“Shin-ui…?”
“Do you remember when I called you a living corpse?”
A few years ago.
That is to say… just under a year after Gu Yangcheon returned, when he went to Hwasan to retrieve Guryonghwa.
Shin-ui had examined his body at Mei-hwa-seon’s request and then said those words.
A walking corpse.
He had indeed said it that way.
“Yes. I remember.”
It concerned the fact that the energy contained within the body isn’t singular, and at any moment, it could erupt.
That particular issue was manageable; Shin-ui’s guidance in handling the techniques and the balance between Demonic Absorption and beast energies kept everything in check.
Thanks to that, Gu Yangcheon was able to learn the Tuapacheonmu technique of the Venerable.
There had seemingly been no significant problems, so he had momentarily forgotten about it.
Now, why does Shin-ui bring this up again?
As Gu Yangcheon pondered, Shin-ui began speaking.
“I wasn’t entirely certain back then. But this time, I can say it with my name on the line, so listen well.”
Shin-ui bore a painfully pained expression as he looked at Gu Yangcheon and started to advise him gravely.
“If this continues, you will die soon.”
At those decisive words, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes bulged wide, like lanterns.
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